Rach Vem, the fishing village behind Phu Quoc’s Starfish Beach, is about 20 to 25 km north of Duong Dong, or 40 to 60 minutes by road. Head north to road DT973, then turn onto the new Suoi Cai to Rach Vem road, a concrete road about 6.5 km long that opened in March 2025. A Grab car, a rented scooter or a private car will all get you there; there is no bus.
The hard part is not the way in but the way back. Ride-hailing gets thin in the far north of the island, so whatever you take to Rach Vem, settle how you are leaving before you arrive.
A car that waits, and a boat already booked
We collect you at your hotel, drive the forest road north and have a private boat ready at Rach Vem. Free cancellation up to 3 days before.
★Starfish Beach Private Morning TourRach Vem by private boat before the crowds, a swim at the starfish sandbar and seafood lunch over the water. · About 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetStarfish Beach by private boat, lunch on the water, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can mangroves by kayak and a west-coast sunset. · About 10 hoursSee the tour →Every way to get to Rach Vem, compared
All four options below reach the village. What separates them is the return trip, the heat, and whether anyone in the group should be on a scooter at all. Prices are typical fares as of September 2026.
| Way to go | Time from Duong Dong | Typical cost | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grab or taxi | 40-60 minutes | Roughly 250,000-400,000 VND each way | Couples who have arranged a ride back |
| Rented scooter | 40-60 minutes | About 120,000-150,000 VND a day, plus fuel | Licensed riders in dry weather |
| Group tour minibus | Arrives around midday | About $40-80 per person | Solo travellers on a budget |
| Private car with a guide | 40-60 minutes, door to door | One price for the whole group | Families, early starts, south-island hotels |
The road north, turn by turn
From Duong Dong, drive north and join road DT973, which runs up the middle of the island through the edge of Phu Quoc National Park. Near Suoi Cai, turn onto the Suoi Cai to Rach Vem road. That road is new: it is concrete, about 6 metres wide, and replaced the red dirt track that older guides and many blogs still describe.
The last few hundred metres are village lanes that lead down to the raft houses. Some of those short lanes are still rough, so take them slowly on a scooter.
How long it takes from other parts of the island
| Starting from | Allow each way |
|---|---|
| Duong Dong town and Long Beach | 40-60 minutes |
| Ong Lang and Cua Can | About 40 minutes |
| Ganh Dau and Bai Dai | About 30 minutes |
| An Thoi and Sunset Town | Around 1.5 hours |
By Grab or taxi: easy there, harder back
Booking a Grab car to Rach Vem is simple from anywhere in Duong Dong. Expect roughly 250,000 to 400,000 VND each way as of September 2026; the app shows the fare before you confirm. The problem is the return. Rach Vem sits at the far end of the island, drivers rarely wait there for a fare, and several guides report long waits or no driver at all in the afternoon.
The fix is to agree a return with the same driver before you get out of the car: a pickup time, and what the wait will cost. Keep his number on WhatsApp.
By scooter: what the law actually requires
A scooter rents for about 120,000 to 150,000 VND a day in Phu Quoc. The ride is pleasant and mostly quiet once you are past Duong Dong. The catch is the licence: Vietnam recognises an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention, carried together with your home licence, and both must cover motorbikes.
Riding without a valid licence is fined 2 to 4 million VND for scooters up to 125 cc under Decree 168/2024, and many travel insurance policies will not cover an unlicensed rider. A 1949-convention permit, the kind issued in the United States and Canada, is not the route Vietnam recognises.
If the return trip is the part that worries you
Your driver waits for you all morning, and the boat is booked before you arrive.
Starfish Beach Private Morning TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetAbout 10 hoursSee the tour →Getting to Rach Vem: common questions
How far is Starfish Beach from Duong Dong?
Rach Vem Starfish Beach is about 20 to 25 km north of Duong Dong. By car or scooter the drive takes 40 to 60 minutes, most of it on DT973 and the new concrete Suoi Cai to Rach Vem road.
Is the road to Rach Vem still a dirt road?
No. The Suoi Cai to Rach Vem road was rebuilt in concrete and opened in March 2025. Only a few short lanes near the raft houses are still rough.
Can I get a Grab back from Rach Vem?
Sometimes, but not reliably. Drivers rarely wait in the far north, so agree a return pickup with your driver on the way up rather than hoping to book one from the beach.
Is there an entrance fee at Rach Vem?
No. The village and the beach are free to enter. You pay only for what you use there, such as a boat to the sandbar, a meal at a raft house or parking.
What time should I leave to see the starfish?
Leave early. The water at the sandbar is calmest and clearest in the morning, roughly 7 to 10 am in the dry season, and group tours usually arrive around midday.
The forest road, a boat and lunch on the water
We collect you at your hotel, drive north before the tour buses and have a private boat waiting at Rach Vem. Every boat ride and lunch is included.
★Starfish Beach Private Morning TourRach Vem by private boat before the crowds, a swim at the starfish sandbar and seafood lunch over the water. · About 5.5 hoursfrom$63/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$175BOOK →2 guests$200BOOK →3 guests$225BOOK →4 guests$250BOOK →See the full tour page →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetStarfish Beach by private boat, lunch on the water, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can mangroves by kayak and a west-coast sunset. · About 10 hoursfrom$91/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$255BOOK →2 guests$295BOOK →3 guests$330BOOK →4 guests$365BOOK →See the full tour page →Road, fares and licence rules as of September 2026.